Peoria mail haulers strike, stating unfair labor practices

PEORIA (25 News Now) -Dozens of trucker drivers parked in front of the 10 Roads Express company in Peoria early Thursday morning, to protest what they claimed were unfair labor practices.

This comes on the heels of a vote to approve a union for the drivers. The employee that led the push to unionize was Donna Gramm. Gramm said she was fired on Wednesday for phone usage. Gramm and her fellow truck drivers believe the firing was unjust and that sparked the strike.

“If the company feels that she violated company policy, they should take her back and give her due representation,” Anthony White, a fellow driver, said.

10 Roads Express drivers haul mail from different facilities throughout Central Illinois. They said they believe if continued, this strike could back up holiday mail.

“We’re willing to step to the table, are they? People out there watching this, they should want them to step up to the table. You should want your mail.” White said.

General Counsel for 10 Roads Express Aaron Gunderson, told 25 News that they would not reinstate Gramm because she was written up for seven violations of company policy over several months. In the final instance, they said she was on a Zoom call for 30 minutes while driving a truck. The company said her dangerous actions could kill someone and that she was warned the morning of her termination about cellphone usage in the truck.

10 Roads Express said the decision had no correlation to the union vote and they have plans to continue to run mail services, so there should be no delays due to the strike.

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